Game Matchup
The best thing about Week 1 of the NFL season is simply that professional football is back. Every team has hope (even the Cleveland Browns). Arguably the second-best thing about the opening week is that in recent years the league has scheduled a Monday night doubleheader. That gives football fans on the East Coast a late-night NFL option that’s not otherwise available. It is also a primetime affair for those on the West Coast. It also gives you an extra MNF NFL Week 1 pick to make.
The second Monday night game this year is Los Angeles Rams at Oakland Raiders. The Rams are the biggest Week 1 road favorites on the NFL betting board at -5. They should also be your MNF NFL Week 1 betting pick for this matchup.
To summarize the widely accepted outlook for these franchises in 2018, we refer to the past two NFL Defensive Players of the Year. The winner in 2016 was Raiders’ end/linebacker Khalil Mack, one of the best pass-rushers in the league. He’s a guy any team would salivate to get, yet Oakland traded him last weekend to Chicago for two first-round picks rather than meet his price. The Raiders said the cost was too prohibitive, but players like Mack are incredibly few and far between, and every franchise is swimming in money.
The Bears had no problem making Mack the highest-paid defensive player in league history. That honor briefly was bestowed upon defensive tackle and 2017 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald of the Rams. He held out all of camp and preseason before getting what he deserved (Mack and Donald were basically waiting for the other to sign first to set the market). Donald is happy, rich and will play Week 1. The Rams were at the top of the NFC West odds anyway, but having Donald in the mix makes them a legitimate Super Bowl contender.
For what it’s worth, and the answer is nothing, these teams played Week 2 of this preseason and the Rams won 19-15 at home. However, they didn’t play most of their key offensive guys at all this preseason, including quarterback Jared Goff and running back Todd Gurley. They were the two biggest reasons the Rams led the NFL in scoring in 2017. Los Angeles will be without starting right guard Jamon Brown for the first two games due to a suspension.
Oakland slipped to 6-10 last year and not much more is expected in 2018, especially after the Mack trade. Coach Jack Del Rio has been replaced by Jon Gruden, he of the $100 million contract (yet they couldn’t pay Mack?). Gruden has made puzzling move after puzzling move in signing past-their-prime veterans. It is to the point that the Raiders’ opening day roster is easily the oldest in the NFL.
One young player who looked pretty good this preseason was running back Chris Warren as he led the NFL in rushing yards. Alas, he has had knee surgery and landed on injured reserve. Past-their-prime Marshawn Lynch and Doug Martin will be the Raiders’ main running backs this year.
Just two years ago, this team looked like a rising powerhouse when it went 12-4. Not much has gone right since. Some think ownership is targeting a return to contention when the team moves to Las Vegas in 2020. Being on the wrong side of this MNF NFL Week 1 pick could be the beginning of a tough year for the Silver and Black.
This game started off as a pick’em, but that was way back in April. That has obviously moved up to -5 because, well, the Rams are much better. Regardless of the line, they should have been your MNF NFL Week 1 pick anyway. The trade of Mack didn’t help matters for the Raiders. Gruden is going to take a beating if this goes south quickly. As far as the total goes, it started at 50 and has gone down to 49.
| ATS Winner | Odds |
|---|---|
| Rams | -5 |
September 7, 2018
